On the face of it, a short training course on asbestos awareness may not appear to be that important. It’s not significant enough to make a difference to your life, is it?
Well, as a tradesperson who could come into contact with the substance every working day, being aware of where asbestos lies is vital. In fact, it was illustrated recently by a court case in Wales.
The prosecution brought by the HSE involved a businessman who hired an unlicensed tradesperson to remove some asbestos insulating board from a building.
As a result, asbestos dust contaminated the building and further contractors, who were licensed and qualified to deal with asbestos, had to be hired to clean up the area safely.
Knowing when to step back
If you were put in a similar situation, having prior knowledge of the possible locations and dangers of asbestos would help, and this is why it is a legal requirement under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, to undergo Asbestos Awareness training.
In the case above, not only was the unlicensed tradesman exposed to asbestos dust, the new owners of the building could have been affected had a complaint not been made against the businessman. In this case, a fine of £8,000 plus costs was imposed on the businessman following the HSE prosecution.
Sign up for an Asbestos Awareness training course
Online courses take around 90 minutes to complete with an asbestos awareness test and certificate at the end. Considering the risks of not taking this training course it’s a very short time, spent wisely, that could literally save your life. Health and Safety Executive regulations stipulate that:
“Workers and supervisors must be able to recognise asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and know what to do if they come across them in order to protect themselves and others.”